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Working people and unions did not cause recession

Posted: Oct. 21, 2011 7:56 am Updated: Oct. 15, 2014 10:15 am

To The Herald-Whig:

I am a proud union member of the Machinists Local Lodge No. 822 and I'm tired of being blamed for the problems with America's economy. Less than 10 percent of this country's workers belong to labor unions, yet we are being blamed for the recession and job losses. This is a ridiculous idea.

Working men and women are being pitted against each other. We're being told that we need to be a part of a "shared sacrifice" but the only solution that seems to be getting any traction is that we need fewer unions -- especially in the public sector -- and all our problems will be solved. Union workers in the public sector all over our country are being told that they no longer deserve the decent wages and benefits they have earned because so many other Americans are suffering from unemployment and low wages. What about all the wealthy corporations that took government bailouts paid for with our tax dollars? Where is their shared sacrifice? Where are all the jobs that these so-called "job creators" are supposed to be creating?

Listen up working people of Quincy -- let's stop fighting with each other and recognize that working people and unions did not cause the recession. Elected officials from both political parties, financial deregulation on Wall Street and unfair trade deals are responsible for this recession -- not the hard-working Americans who bargain collectively to improve safety on the job, equality in the workplace, and bargain for fair wages and benefits.